By Bruce Rolfe
With the next regular meetings scheduled in January for both the Lawrence Memorial District Library Board and the Climax Village Council, a new library lease between the two sides will likely not be secured before the current lease expires December 31, 2024 unless the two sides can come to an agreement and special meetings are called by both entities.
Lawrence Memorial District Library Board President Jamie Camp told the Library Board at its regular meeting December 16 she is waiting for the Climax Village Council to provide a lease for the Library Board to consider.
She cautioned it is possible the Library Board Executive Committee will not get a lease to review before the end of the year because the Village does not have an attorney.
The Village is currently without an attorney firm after Bauckham, Thall, Seeber, Kaufman, & Koches PC, the village’s ordinance enforcement attorney and limited general counsel attorney, submitted a letter of resignation effective November 20, 2024.
If the Climax Village Council provides a lease to consider before the Library Board’s next scheduled meeting at the end of January, the Library Board authorized the Executive Committee and Camp to review and accept a new lease by a 6-0 margin (Marybeth Coonfare absent).
Camp pointed out the board should expect some changes in a new lease compared to the lease about to expire.
The current rent the Library Board pays the Village to lease the library building is $1 per year. Camp said the Library Board should expect the yearly figure to increase because the Village pays for the building insurance and she expects insurance costs to increase.
The Village of Climax owns the library building. Besides paying for building insurance, the Village of Climax is responsible for building maintenance. The Lawrence Memorial Library Board pays for energy costs. The Library Board pays for insurance on contents inside the building.
The lease also allows the Prairie Historical Society to use the PHS room in the library and the Village Council to use the PHS room for meetings.
Library Director Report
Library Director Bill Lewis reported to the Library Board for the period of November 1 to November 30 Overdrive had 56 check outs, there were 34 audio book check outs, and 22 regular book check outs. Within the library, there were 226 check outs, 210 check ins for 436 pieces of material handled in the library for a combined total of 492 pieces of material handled between the two.
During the 30-day period, Lewis said there were 150 adults who entered the library, 50 juveniles and 14 children for a total of 214 visitors.
There were three story hours that five people participated in, 12 people participated in the Ghome program, 84 people participated in the Christmas event, and there are now 48 children enrolled in the Dolly Parton program, which Lewis said is the highest the library has ever had.
Lewis adds according to library records, patrons have saved $20,981 so far in 2024 by checking items out of the library.
The library director said the library would like to hire a high school student to work in the library to help with programs and other tasks. An employment background check has been performed. The new employee will be paid minimum wage and Lewis said the money is in the budget for the new hire.
Lewis adds as of December 1, magazines went live on Overdrive. The list of magazines available are listed on the library’s website.
The South County Christmas tree has been placed in front of the library as a fundraiser for South County.
Lewis reports the Lawrence Memorial District Library has been accepted and became a drop point for the Ministry With Community for their wish list. The library will continue to accept donations through Christmas. Donations will then be taken to Ministry With Community in Kalamazoo.
The library director reports there will be afternoon programs at the library during Christmas break on December 30, 2024 and January 6, 2025 from 1-3 p.m. with crafts and coloring for children.
In other items covered at the December 16 meeting:
• As of December 16, Treasurer Wendell Stoeffler said there is $90,208.90 in the library checking account and $78,998.11 in the library savings account for a total of $169,207.01.
• Library Board President Jamie Camp said the Climax Village Council approved the reappointment of Wendell Stoeffler and Stormie Cook to the library board for four-year terms and the Leroy Township Board will consider the reappointment of Marybeth Coonfare for a four year term at its December 19 meeting.
• With a remodel expected in the Children, Juvenile and Young Adult section of the library in the near future, a suggestion that the older chairs near the front window in that room could be
considered to be replaced.
• It was noted the increase in the library director’s salary to $5,280 year at the November 26 Library Board meeting is well below an average library director’s salary, which could range from $19,500 - $24,500.
• Also in November, the Library Board raised the minimum wage to $12.70 per hour and the library’s insurance coverage to $1.5 million.
With the next regular meetings scheduled in January for both the Lawrence Memorial District Library Board and the Climax Village Council, a new library lease between the two sides will likely not be secured before the current lease expires December 31, 2024 unless the two sides can come to an agreement and special meetings are called by both entities.
Lawrence Memorial District Library Board President Jamie Camp told the Library Board at its regular meeting December 16 she is waiting for the Climax Village Council to provide a lease for the Library Board to consider.
She cautioned it is possible the Library Board Executive Committee will not get a lease to review before the end of the year because the Village does not have an attorney.
The Village is currently without an attorney firm after Bauckham, Thall, Seeber, Kaufman, & Koches PC, the village’s ordinance enforcement attorney and limited general counsel attorney, submitted a letter of resignation effective November 20, 2024.
If the Climax Village Council provides a lease to consider before the Library Board’s next scheduled meeting at the end of January, the Library Board authorized the Executive Committee and Camp to review and accept a new lease by a 6-0 margin (Marybeth Coonfare absent).
Camp pointed out the board should expect some changes in a new lease compared to the lease about to expire.
The current rent the Library Board pays the Village to lease the library building is $1 per year. Camp said the Library Board should expect the yearly figure to increase because the Village pays for the building insurance and she expects insurance costs to increase.
The Village of Climax owns the library building. Besides paying for building insurance, the Village of Climax is responsible for building maintenance. The Lawrence Memorial Library Board pays for energy costs. The Library Board pays for insurance on contents inside the building.
The lease also allows the Prairie Historical Society to use the PHS room in the library and the Village Council to use the PHS room for meetings.
Library Director Report
Library Director Bill Lewis reported to the Library Board for the period of November 1 to November 30 Overdrive had 56 check outs, there were 34 audio book check outs, and 22 regular book check outs. Within the library, there were 226 check outs, 210 check ins for 436 pieces of material handled in the library for a combined total of 492 pieces of material handled between the two.
During the 30-day period, Lewis said there were 150 adults who entered the library, 50 juveniles and 14 children for a total of 214 visitors.
There were three story hours that five people participated in, 12 people participated in the Ghome program, 84 people participated in the Christmas event, and there are now 48 children enrolled in the Dolly Parton program, which Lewis said is the highest the library has ever had.
Lewis adds according to library records, patrons have saved $20,981 so far in 2024 by checking items out of the library.
The library director said the library would like to hire a high school student to work in the library to help with programs and other tasks. An employment background check has been performed. The new employee will be paid minimum wage and Lewis said the money is in the budget for the new hire.
Lewis adds as of December 1, magazines went live on Overdrive. The list of magazines available are listed on the library’s website.
The South County Christmas tree has been placed in front of the library as a fundraiser for South County.
Lewis reports the Lawrence Memorial District Library has been accepted and became a drop point for the Ministry With Community for their wish list. The library will continue to accept donations through Christmas. Donations will then be taken to Ministry With Community in Kalamazoo.
The library director reports there will be afternoon programs at the library during Christmas break on December 30, 2024 and January 6, 2025 from 1-3 p.m. with crafts and coloring for children.
In other items covered at the December 16 meeting:
• As of December 16, Treasurer Wendell Stoeffler said there is $90,208.90 in the library checking account and $78,998.11 in the library savings account for a total of $169,207.01.
• Library Board President Jamie Camp said the Climax Village Council approved the reappointment of Wendell Stoeffler and Stormie Cook to the library board for four-year terms and the Leroy Township Board will consider the reappointment of Marybeth Coonfare for a four year term at its December 19 meeting.
• With a remodel expected in the Children, Juvenile and Young Adult section of the library in the near future, a suggestion that the older chairs near the front window in that room could be
considered to be replaced.
• It was noted the increase in the library director’s salary to $5,280 year at the November 26 Library Board meeting is well below an average library director’s salary, which could range from $19,500 - $24,500.
• Also in November, the Library Board raised the minimum wage to $12.70 per hour and the library’s insurance coverage to $1.5 million.
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